Furina, Please Let Me Steal Your Heart!

Why does she know about the script?

Judith couldn't help but take a step back, while her stand-in defense counsel was rendered speechless once again.

What script? How come I've never heard of it?

Furina, astonished asked. "Script? What script?"

"The script for a play."

Luna's expression turned serious. "Miss Judith, aren't all your scripts based on real-life stories?"

"The Masked Dead is based on a murder case from twenty years ago," Navia said softly, "and your other plays, Swan Dance and Doll's Vocal Cords..."

"I found similar cases in old newspapers and archives many years ago. This clearly isn't a coincidence."

"Well, there's nothing strange about that," Furina said.

There were plenty of plays based on real stories; hers were hardly unique.

The audience nodded, thinking Furina made sense.

Luna continued. "Indeed, it wouldn't be unusual in the realm of creation. But Miss Judith has always wanted to write a masterpiece—a masterpiece that is hers and hers alone."

"And the main character she chose was none other than Mary Bestina."

Luna used her thief ability to see what was hidden on Judith's body.

An engagement ring identical to Mary Bestina's, inscribed on the inside: "To My Beautiful You."

And the other item—a script she had seen before:

"The Greatest Masterpiece (Title Tentative)"

Sadly, she wasn't some famous detective who could use perfect logic and reasoning to overwhelm her opponent. She was just a Phantom Thief.

Navia tapped the notebook in her hand and began:

"Based on my investigation and testimonies from those who know Miss Judith, she has been passionate about creating since childhood. However, her mother constantly discouraged her, even going so far as to burn all her creations.

"'Your work is worthless,' her mother once screamed at her, loud enough for everyone to hear."

"Perhaps that moment gave birth to her obsession with creating the 'greatest masterpiece'."

Judith: "....."

A eerie silence hung in the air, as if acknowledging Navia's words.

The stand-in defense attorney anxiously asked, "Miss Judith, you're not keeping anything that she mentioned, are you?"

He felt like he was going mad—hadn't they agreed to trust each other? Why was she still hiding things?

He shouldn't have taken this job; it was about to turn into a public farce.

Typically, when faced with such a question, a person would instinctively deny the accusation. They would continuously deny it, trying to cover up the truth.

But Luna knew she was different.

Judith's lips parted slightly, and after a moment of being speechless, her voice seemed to brighten as if a smile had spread across her face.

"Yes, she did say that, and I... also carried it with me."

Furina blinked rapidly. "Wow, you really did bring it?"

"Sir Neuvillette, this is an evidence ambush!" The stand-in defense attorney pushed up his glasses that were about to slip off.

Who will save me? I don't want to defend anymore!

Luna said earnestly, "Sir Neuvillette, please allow the supplementation and enforcement of evidence."

Without much hesitation, Neuvillette issued his ruling.

"Supplementation of evidence is allowed. The accused, please produce the item in question."

The Oratrice's balance leaned further toward Luna.

There was no doubt that if Judith didn't show the corresponding evidence, the trial would completely tip in Luna's favor.

Judith retrieved the script from her bosom and handed it over to the security team.

"Please look... This is my masterpiece..."

Her suppressed excitement caused the stand-in defense attorney's face to change.

There's something fishy going on!

In a whisper, Navia said, "Lulu, you weren't off by even a millimeter with your guess. She truly is a vain criminal... Choosing confession under these circumstances is utterly baffling."

Arms crossed, Luna watched silently as Neuvillette took the script from the security team.

He flipped through a few pages, his expression gradually turning grave.

"D-does this mean there's some major issue?"

"I'm a bit scared...."

The audience felt a growing sense of unease.

Neuvillette remained silent until he had read the entire script. Then he spoke slowly:

"The content is somewhat...."

He considered several words before continuing: "Inappropriate."

"However, for the purposes of the trial's judgment, I will read some parts aloud.

"If anyone is uncomfortable, please cover your ears."

Judith shouted, "What kind of joke is this?! This is my best script yet. Read it, read the whole thing! If we don't do this, what's the point of me writing it in the first place?!"

How quickly she can change, thought everyone.

Furina flinched and shrank back in her chair. "H-how could she be so different all of a sudden?"

Clorinde, who had been silent until now, finally spoke: "Perhaps this is her true nature."

Neuvillette ignored her outburst, while the security guards hurriedly moved to restrain Judith, preventing her from doing anything reckless.

"Act One, Scene One."

"I: 'Your name is Female Lead? What a lovely name. I'm Protagonist. I want to write a script that captivates everyone's hearts. I hope you'll play the female lead in my story, the heroine of my life...' "

"She: 'This... is indeed quite sudden. It makes me blush, but I feel we could become true friends.'

"I: 'Her name, her smile, they're truly unforgettable. My heart seems to beat only for her. Suddenly, my life and dreams have taken on a brilliant new glow.'

"'She will be my lead actress. I must bring her into my troupe, but she'll never truly shine—because at first glance, I saw it's not the stage she was destined for.'"

Neuvillette recited the lines with no discernible emotional fluctuation.

If it were any other script, Furina might have laughed out loud, but now she remained oddly silent.

"Act Three, Scene Four."

"I: 'Why do you weep?'"

"She: 'The stage does not acknowledge me... Please give me the wine you've always offered me, so I may lift my spirits once more. I will become your leading lady, just as you promised with your ring...'"

"I: 'Very well, drink up. This bottle of Sinthe wine will transport you to the land of the living, and at the same time, it will ripen your beauty until I can finally take it for myself.'"

Monologue:

She falls—so gracefully, as if even gravity adores her.

Her heart races, mirroring my own. I lean in, drawn by the rhythm, unzipping the warmth with care. Blood spills forth, rich and vibrant, painting my hands in crimson hues.

Yet her face remains serene, gentle. She understands. Tonight, she becomes my masterpiece.

My fingers trace her cooling skin before pressing in the scarlet fruit.

A heartbeat so beautiful must be replaced with something of equal splendor—even if soon, it will be traded for wine to sate my thirst for beauty. The merchants know me well. I know where to find them. Their next gathering will be at...

Ugh. Furina's face twisted in disgust. Never before had she read such revolting words!

The audience, too, seemed unable to bear even a glance in her direction, their expressions equally grim. What an abhorrent script! To set it upon a stage would be sheer Pollution.

Navia, however, had noticed something else—the vague address mentioned in the script was none other than Sinthe's gang's hideout, which Phantom Thief White Cat had struck earlier...

Is this a coincidence?

Neuvillette, on the other hand, remained utterly expressionless as he continued reading:

ACT SIX, SCENE ONE.

I: "She is about to come back, but the troupe has brought in a woman who is her exact opposite."

" 'She shines, but the stage should not respond to her... The lead of the play should not be her. My heart brims with resentment towards her; don't steal away our shared stage, you dazzling sun!' "

Everyone's gaze fell upon Luna.

If we're talking about someone dazzling and new, who fits the script's description, isn't that clearly the rookie Luna?

" 'I am to be cast upon the stage of judgment; I know full well it is for all my sins. Yet I love you, my dearest purity...'"

Neuvillette let out a soft sigh, closing the script.

"...And that is an excerpt from the play."

Judith cried out, "You should have read it in full from beginning to end! This is my masterpiece, the result of all my blood, sweat, and tears!"

Furina finally snapped back to reality—her torment was over at last. But now an uncontrollable surge of anger flooded her heart.

She slammed her hand against the railing. "What kind of blasphemy is this? You're desecrating the stage! Those words are filthy, every line laced with revolting self-indulgence. Tossing ten thousand rotten eggs at the stage would be more fragrant than your so-called script!"

Not even Luna had witnessed Furina's wrath; such fury was unprecedented for anyone present.

Judith's expression twisted. "Even the gods cannot appreciate my aesthetics? What kind of god... truly..."

"What a wonderful god!" Luna suddenly interrupted.

The appraisal was over—one couldn't linger on the aftertaste forever.

Better to admire something more captivating instead.

"I believe no one understands the stage better than Lady Furina. If a god like her were to appreciate your so-called masterpiece, that would mark the true death of art."

Furina nodded repeatedly.

Exactly.

No one understood the stage better than her.

But to say she liked it... well, that was another matter.

Luna continued, "Let us return to the trial."

Her voice drew the audience's attention back.

"As you can all see, the script's plot mirrors reality almost perfectly. Lord Neuvillette, it should contain the location of the body. Why don't we put it to the test?"

Neuvillette nodded. "Indeed, it does."

He handed the script to the Gardes, who immediately set out to investigate.

Not long after, they returned—carrying a large box.

It was the very same box Luna had noticed earlier. She already knew what lay inside.

"...Open it," Neuvillette ordered.

The Gardes complied.

The audience craned their necks, peering inside—only to be met with the sight of a corpse, so mangled it was beyond recognition.

"Ugh!?"

"How foul..."

"Her face... her face is gone...?"

Eek! Furina let out a silent scream upon seeing the corpse. She fervently hoped this gruesome sight wouldn't haunt her dreams tonight. Please, let it disappear!

The box closed.

The security team stated, "The body was buried near Judith's house. Based on our initial examination, we're reasonably certain that the deceased is indeed the missing Mary Bestina."

"The cause of death appears to be a stab wound to the chest, with the rest of the injuries inflicted posthumously.... We found dragging marks on the box, suggesting it may have been moved at least once. Apart from that, we also discovered this."

He produced a bag of evidence.

At first glance, it seemed like a simple mask, but upon closer inspection, one could discern that it was actually...

"Her Face..." Navia covered her mouth with her hand, disbelief written plainly in her eyes.

She could never have conceived of this.

"My god!"

"What in... what is this...?"

Despite their bloodlust, the spectators' minds were still rooted in reality.

This sight undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to their psyche.

Luna, however, remained composed. "Indeed, this is 'Miss Mary's Mask.' If I'm not mistaken, you... were planning to wear it and become the lead actress in the troupe, weren't you?"

"By making everyone at the troupe remember Mary time and time again, you were merely trying to 'warm up' the stage."

"Huh?" Furina looked utterly bewildered.

Become the lead actress by wearing the mask...?

"Yes," Judith admitted candidly.

"You're admitting you did all these things?"

"I did. I've said it already—she was my leading lady, destined for the stage. But then..." She shot Luna a venomous glare. "You had to show up! I was just moments away from finishing the costume... Mary could have been resurrected on stage. Why did you steal our spotlight, you thief?! You're the one who made her disappear!"

Enraged, Navia exploded, "How dare you do something so reprehensible and then try to pin it on Lulu? You're the most despicable person I've ever met!"

No sooner had she spoken than she heard Luna let out a soft laugh.

Thief... Indeed, that was true.

"You're mistaken," Luna said. "I didn't steal your spot in the limelight. This stage is reserved only for those qualified to stand upon it, for those deserving to shine. It never belonged to you from the start.

"If anything, there's only one thing I've truly stolen." Luna's face curved into a smile. "And that's your future."

"It's your fault! All of it's your fault...!"

Judith summoned an unexpected burst of strength, biting the guard holding her with enough force to draw blood. Then, as if possessed, she tore herself free, leaped from the defendant's platform, and hurtled towards Luna, who still stood on stage.

"Clorinde!" Furina cried out urgently.

Clorinde drew her pistol, her finger tightening on the trigger. Neuvillette also raised his hand; no one could be allowed to disrupt the trial.

But the quickest movement came as a flash of yellow.

Hey! Navia launched herself into a flying kick, her foot connecting squarely with Judith's face.

Judith's features contorted as she was sent spinning through the air. She landed hard on the ground.

Navia touched down gracefully, dusting off her shoe with her foot. "Trying to hurt my good partner? You'll have to get past me first."

She turned around, her face breaking into a bright smile. "Are you alright? Lulu?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thank you." Though she knew she could have easily dispatched the attacker herself, with a single kick that would've splattered her opponent against the wall, it felt good to be protected for a change.

The security guards rushed forward, pinning Judith down.

Seeing this, Neuvillette lowered his hand and rapped on his cane. "Does the accused have any further objections?"

The stand-in defense attorney was sprawled on the floor, maintaining his frog-like sitting position as he mumbled in a daze, "No... I just want to go home."

It was clear that the mental shock he had suffered was indeed severe.

After a moment of sympathy, Luna shifted his gaze towards Neuvillette.

"Then, as the highest Arbiter of Fontaine, I shall recount the case from beginning to end for all present."

"Twenty-three days ago, Mary Bestina, former star performer of the Dark Moon Troupe, went missing. However, it was actually murder, and the culprit was her lover, Judith.

"After Mary consumed Sinthe and became delirious, Judith used a sharp object to stab her, causing her death.

"Subsequently, she hid Mary's body in a trunk while simultaneously... creating a 'mask'. The purpose of this was to 'replace' Mary and become the troupe's leading actress.

"Following her accusation, she buried both the body and the mask near her home.

"In conclusion, we can now submit the matter to the Oratrice for their final verdict."

He nodded towards the security team.

A member of the security team approached the Input Port of the Oratrice and inserted a ticket.

In the following second, the Oratrice's pipes lit up with a dazzling blue light.

This signified that everything from the trial had been transformed into energy.

Luna narrowed her eyes, observing this closely.

The Oratrice... Just what exactly was it?

Neuvillette retrieved the paper ejected by the Oratrice and read its contents.

[The accused is guilty.]

[Sentence: Life imprisonment.]

"Thus, I hereby declare: Judith, guilty! Sentenced to life imprisonment!"

The audience erupted in applause, justice undoubtedly served.

Furina also exhaled, muttering, "Finally, it's over. If I knew the trial would be like this, I definitely wouldn't have come. It'll give me nightmares!"

Navia, her face beaming, raised her hands to applaud. "We've won! Hooray, Lulu... Lulu?" She suddenly noticed that Luna alone did not wear a smile.

Luna was aware that Fontaine had capital punishment on its books, but it had never been carried out. In other words, even if Judith's crimes were heinous, she would remain alive in Meropide. Even if her life there wasn't comfortable, she would still live until she died of illness or old age.

Luna's gaze settled on Judith's face. "Have you ever thought about what the dead would say to you?" Her voice wasn't loud, yet everyone could hear it clearly.

Everyone fell silent. Even Furina, who had been about to leave the opera house, stopped in her tracks, turned around, and looked towards the stage again.

"Of course," Judith spat out a mouthful of blood, speaking in a low voice.

"No, you have no idea," Luna said. "You're just someone living in your own world." She took a step closer to Judith. "Ugly." Another step. "Filthy."

With each word, Judith's face contorted further.

"Miss Mary trusted you, even said her dreams rested with you. She wanted to shine brighter on stage for you, yet you led her astray, even caused her to wither. You betrayed her utterly."

Luna paused, her face a mask of pity. "But I know what she'd say. I'll speak the words the dead cannot utter."

Judith's gaze wavered violently.

Don't look at me like that...

"To write such things, you devoted your entire self, just to prove your creativity to your mother... How utterly pathetic."

"Don't pity me! You don't understand anything! Nothing! No, don't look at me like that... Don't! I'm a writer of masterpieces!"

Judith's voice cracked as she screamed, but in the end, she was still taken away by the security.

When dealing with attention-seeking psychopaths, don't waste your breath trying to understand.

Simply look down on them with pity.

Luna turned away, bowed deeply.

It was time for her curtain call.